The Primera Division leaders will have to make do without the services of their first-choice goalkeeper for a number of weeks

Barcelona have announced on their official website that Victor Valdes has been handed a four-match suspension following his dismissal in Saturday's 2-1 La Liga loss away against Real Madrid.

The shot-stopper was shown a red card for verbally abusing referee Miguel Angel Perez Lasa after he refused to award Barcelona a spot-kick in the closing stages of the game, and consequently faces a spell on the sidelines.

However, a statement on the Barca website reads that the Blaugrana will not accept the ban and the club's legal department will appeal the decision in the upcoming days.

Valdes will miss the Primera Division games against Deportivo La Coruna, Rayo Vallecano, Celta de Vigo and Real Mallorca if the suspension is upheld.

The 31-year-old has made 26 league appearances so far this term, keeping five clean sheets in the process.